Week 4 streaming options

Week 4 streaming options

Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season is in the books and was filled with exciting finishes (especially for the 1 PM slate of games) and a number of surprising upsets. Hopefully, the matchups resulted in huge fantasy days for your respective team(s), but if it didn’t, the best course of action is to pick ourselves up as a collective and press forward and onward towards Week 4. And that starts now with my top week 4 streaming options at QB and D/ST. It is important to note that Week 4 is the last slate of games without bye weeks until late November, so revel in you full lineup while you can!

To show full accountability and transparency, here are my QB streaming results from Week 3:

Quarterback

Jay Cutler– 220 Pass Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT= 12.70 FP

Trevor Siemian– 259 Pass Yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs= 9.56 FP

DeShone Kizer– 242 Pass Yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs= 25.08 FP

Jared Goff– 292 Pass Yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT= 29.58 FP

Carson Palmer– 325 Pass Yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT= 25.70 FP

Quarterback Streaming Options

Deshaun Watson | QB

An underrated and overlooked aspect in fantasy football is the ability of the quarterback to run with the football and how quickly they can rack up points. It made Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick more than relevant over the past few years and it could do the same for Deshaun Watson. Now, I don’t mean to put the rookie in that caliber of QB play since he is a MUCH better passer than Tebow (even though we only have a 3-game sample size), but I want to emphasize his tremendous rushing ability. Through his first two games as an NFL starter, Watson has rushed for 108 yards along with one rushing TD (56 of those yards and the TD came in WK 2 in Cincinnati). More impressively, Watson threw for over 300 yards and two TDs and came within 30 seconds of defeating the New England Patriots on the road last week. With a home game against the Titans coming up, Watson’s outlook shines brightly for at least another week. Tennessee is allowing over 20 points per game to opposing quarterbacks and rank 30th in that department. Watson is one of the best streaming QB options for Week 4 and should produce his third straight performance of 17 or more fantasy points.

Blake Bortles | QB

I know, I know. Suggesting Bortles as a streaming option sounds rather insane, but you can’t ignore his top-5 fantasy performance against the Ravens this past weekend in London. The often-erratic Bortles threw for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns en route leading his team to a resounding (and shocking) 44-7 victory. Don’t be shocked, but the Jacksonville quarterback is in low-QB1 territory ranking 12th in fantasy points at his position. He could really solidify that spot with a favorable matchup on deck against the 22nd rated pass defense of the New York Jets. He is a decent option in deeper leagues or 2QB/Superflex if you’re in a desperate need for a QB, but be forewarned if you’re looking for another top-5 finish.

Jay Cutler | QB

I’m going to the well once again with “Smokin” Jay as a streaming option at quarterback. Cutler has started slow out of the blocks to start the season, frustrating his fantasy owners in the process. While he has underperformed, people need to realize that the Dolphins managed to coerce him from his TV gig with FOX to sign with them to play in 2017. Notwithstanding that he’s not the epitome of a world-class athlete, Cutler probably needed to get into some type of football shape to take advantage of his natural arm talent. Having said all that, he still has the tools and weapons in place to make an impact in both the real world and fantasy football. You might not have to wait too long for that to happen as the Dolphins play host to a New Orleans team which cannot stop opposing quarterbacks. The Saints are ranked second to last in the NFL, surrendering nearly 22 fantasy points per game through the air.

Andy Dalton | QB

Dalton and the Bengals offense were MUCH better in Week 3 under new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. It was pretty evident that the plan was to get the ball out his hands quickly to mask a terrible offensive line. The plan worked early, with Cincinnati taking a 21-7 lead into halftime, but they were unable to find the end zone after the break and lost in overtime. Dalton focused on all-world #1 receiver AJ Green peppering him with 13 targets and Green had a strong bounce-back game with a 10-111-1 stat line and this production should continue heading to Cleveland to face the Browns. You’re hopeful that this offensive re-imagining will continue to evolve as the season progresses, so Dalton is a fine streaming option if he’s available on your league’s waiver wire.

DeShone Kizer | QB

It isn’t pretty, but Kizer’s turnovers can create the opportunity for good fantasy games in comeback efforts like they did in Week 3 against the Colts. Although Kizer has eight turnovers on the season, he’s managed to have two top-10 scoring caliber weeks through two games. This week’s opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals are looking good in their front seven and they are getting Vontaze Burfict back from suspension, so Week 4 might not be a streaming option on the surface, but Kizer’s boldness throwing downfield and running ability will make him rosterable as long as he’s the starter. Plus, Kizer has the rare talent to stream and consistently stream the defense he’s facing, so proceed with the appropriate caution.

Jared Goff | QB

What a difference a year makes with his career-high 145.8 passer rating in last Thursday night’s win over the Niners. In fact, Goff’s passing rating improvement from his lowly 63.6 in his rookie season to his at the moment second-year rating of 118.2 is on pace to be the largest increase since 1970 among players making the jump to their sophomore season. At this point in the season, Goff seems to be a dramatically improved quarterback under Matt LaFleur’s and Sean McVay’s offense and it seems to be beginning to unlock the upside the Rams saw that they made the choice to make him the #1 overall draft pick in 2016. Another tough test is ahead for Goff as the Rams face the Cowboys with a resurgent pass rush led by Demarcus Lawrence and his league-leading 6 ½ sacks. I would consider Goff to be a strong streaming option due to lack of depth in the Cowboys backfield so there are plentiful opportunities for Rams big plays for their corps of wide receivers led by Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp.

Total Defense Streaming Options

Jacksonville Jaguars | DST

After the utter destruction of the Baltimore Ravens in London, the Jags travel to the Meadowlands to face the hapless Jets. It would make sense to pick up them up off the waiver wire if dropped since the Jets are 26th in total offensive yards(184.7), 26th in passing yards(554), and 23rd in rushing yards(267) so there’s statistical evidence the Jets are a feeble offense. The Jags should turn into #Sacksonville for Week 4 and roll to victory.

Cincinnati Bengals | DST

The Bengals pass rush got after Aaron Rodgers and managed to get a whopping six sacks and countless pressures which caused his first ever pick-six. Next up is DeShone Kizer, who is prone to multiple turnovers since he is a rookie starter in the NFL. Kizer doesn’t stand a chance if Carl Lawson and company can get after him like they did with Rodgers. Plus, Vontaze Burfict, their defensive playmaker returns after a 3-game suspension to bolster the Cincinnati front seven.

New England Patriots | DST

If the Saints defense can sack Cam Newton four times and force 3 interceptions, the Patriots can surely force him into some mistakes. (Assuming Tom Brady can lead them to a victory with the newfound deep passing game)